What's a paid apprenticeship job? It's a real job where you work for an employer and study to get a qualification. You might work for a new employer or start an apprenticeship with your current one!
You'll have the same rights as other employees, including the National Minimum Wage and paid holidays.
With an apprenticeship job you'll:
- study and get a qualification – from SCQF Level 4 to degree level
- pick an apprenticeship that takes one to five years
- choose from a huge range of apprenticeships
- gain skills and workplace experience
Want to jump right in? Use the Apprenticeships.scot job search to explore vacancies.
What apprenticeships can I do?
There are two kinds of paid apprenticeships: Modern and Graduate. As a Modern Apprentice, you’ll:
- have a job and learn for between one and four years
- study with a college or another learning provider
- get a qualification recognised by industry employers
- choose from over 100 different Modern Apprenticeships
As a Graduate Apprentice, you’ll:
- study for part of your week at university
- get an Ordinary or Master’s degree
- combine work and study for two to five years
- choose from 15 different Graduate Apprenticeships
Benefits of an apprenticeship job
An apprenticeship job is a brilliant way to mix work and learning life! It’ll help you:
- earn a wage and get a qualification at the same time
- develop valuable workplace experience and skills
- work with a wide range of people
- increase your confidence, resilience and social skills
- have the same employee rights as everyone else
- enhance your career options
What age should I be?
To become either a Modern or Graduate Apprentice, you should be at least the legal age to leave school in Scotland.
There’s no maximum age to do a Graduate Apprenticeship. With Modern Apprenticeships, there’s no maximum age but funding that the employer gets for some apprenticeships is different if you’re 25 or older.
Qualifications you need to get an apprenticeship job
You might be more qualified than you think for an apprenticeship job! Each vacancy advert tells you what qualifications you need to start the apprenticeship and there's a wide variety.
As a Modern Apprentice, some vacancies have no entry requirements, and some may ask for an SCQF Level 5 or Higher qualification.
Entry requirements for Graduate Apprenticeships vary by course and institution. Check the vacancy advert or you can contact the university for guidance on entry requirements.
Where to apply for apprenticeships
Ready to take the next step by learning and earning? Check out live vacancies on Apprenticeships.scot – you'll apply there or on the employer's website. You'll see a full job description including salary, what you'll do and the qualifications you'll need.